Electric irons



June 14, 1955 J. E. VANCE Er AL 2,710,469

ELECTRIC IRoNs Filed Jan. 1e, 1952 @my @PW-MM ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O ELECTRIC IRONS John E. Vance, Canton, Dale C. Gerber, North Canton, and Richard H. Smith, Canton, Ohio, assignors to The Holer Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation o lo Application January 16, 1952, Serial No. 266,706

15 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates toa steam iron convertible to a dry iron and more particularly to a control therefor in which two thermostatic switches are provided responsive to sole plate temperatures, one for controlling the temperature of the sole plate when the iron is set for steam ironing and the other for controlling the sole plate temperature when the iron is set for dry ironing.

lt has been found in practice that the sole plate temperature should be the same for ironing all fabrics when steam ironing and that the sole plate temperature should be variable when dry ironing.l

lt has also been found that the steam ironing temperature is intermediate the high and low temperature settings for dry ironing.

According to the present invention two thermostatic switches are mounted on the sole plate so as to be responsive to its temperature. One of the switches is set at the factory to maintain the sole plate at a fixed temperature proper for steam ironing with the water valve open. The other switch is manually adjustable so that the proper sole plate temperature can be selected for the particular fabric being ironed when the water valve is closed and the iron is being used as a dry iron. A two-way switch is linked to the water valve actuator so that when the valve is open the rst thermostatic switch takes over the control of the sole plate temperature and the second thermostatic switch is out of circuit. When the water valve is closed and the iron is to be used as a dry iron, the first adjustable thermostatic switch is out of circuit.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a vertical cross-sectional View of an iron according to the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram showing how the various elements are electrically connected in circuit.

The iron as such forms no part of the present invention and may be of any suitable construction. The iron shown in the drawings is of the same general construction as that shown and described in an application for United States Letters Patent by lohn E.. Vance, Serial No. 218,046, filed March 28, 1951, now abandoned.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings the iron of the present invention comprises a sole plate heated by a heating element 11. The sole plate 10 is provided with a steam boiler 12 and steam passages 13 which communicate with the steam passages 14 in a cover plate 15. The passages 14 communicate with openings extending through the sole plate 10 as disclosed in the application above referred to.

The cover plate 15 is provided with an opening 16 having a female conical seat which coacts with a male conical seat on a lower end of a valve fitting 17 secured to a water tank 18. A fill tube 19 is secured to the tank 18 and has a forwardly extending iill opening 20 communicating with the interior of the tank 18.

A valve steam 21 extends upwardly through the ll tube 19. At its lower end the valve stem 21 is provided with a valve 22 which cooperates with a valve seat 23 to close olf communication between the interior of the tank 18 and the boiler 12. At its upper end the Valve stem 21 is loosely connected to a valve actuator 24 pivoted at 25 to a bracket 26 suitably secured to the top of the fill tube 19. An overcenter spring 27 holds the valve in closed position. In the position shown in Fig. 1 the valve is open and the spring 27 is positioned substantially across its dead center position and is held in that position by a detent 28.

A thermostatic switch generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 is provided for controlling the temperature of the sole plate for dry ironing. The thermostatic switch 30 comprises a bimetal element 31 and two spring switch arms 32 and 33 carrying contacts 34 and 35 respectively. The foregoing elements are supported on the sole plate 10 by an insulating post, to the top of which is secured a rigid arm 36. An insulating button 37 is carried by the bimetal 31 and extends upwardly through an opening in the spring arm 32 so as to contact spring arm 33 and separate contacts 34 and 35 when the sole plate temperature rises above a set value. An adjusting screw 38 is supported by arm 36 and has an insulating button 39 extending downwardly through an opening in the spring arm 33 so as to contact spring arm 32 to adjust the temperature setting of the switch 30 and to completely open it when turned to its lowermost position.

The tank 18 and the aforementioned parts are enclosed by cover shell 40. The tank 1S is secured to a cover shell 40 by a hollow member 41 and nut 4Z. The member 41 coacts with a tube 43 extending upwardly through the tank 18. Cover shell 40 and its associated parts are secured to the sole plate by a bolt 44 and support 45.

A control dial 46 is rotatably supported on the cover shell 40 by a spring clip 47 secured to the cover shell by the nut 42. The dial 46 is drivingly connected to the shaft 38 by a driving connection 48. The dial 46 has a plurality of indicia thereon to indicate the proper temperature setting for various fabrics and an off position to indicate that the contacts 34 and 35 are separated regardless of the sole plate temperature.

The structure previously described is disclosed in the aforementioned application by Vance. The present invention is combined with the construction shown and described in the Vance application in a novel manner which will now be described.

According to the present invention a second thermostatic switch 50 is provided. The switch 50 comprises a bimetallic element 51 and two spring switch arms 52 and 53 provided with contacts 54 and 5S respectively. An insulating button 56 is carried by the free end of the bimetallic element 51 and passes through an opening in the spring arm 52 so as to contact the spring arm 53 under certain conditions. The spring arm 32 of switch 30 is provided with an extension 57 which contacts an insulating button 58, so that when the dial 46 is rotated to the olf position to separate contacts 34 and 35, contacts 54 and 55 will also be separated.

A manipulating handle generally indicated by the reference numeral 56 is secured to the cover shell 4) in any suitable manner. The handle 56 has hollow front and rear legs 57 and 58 respectively and a hollow hand grip portion 59 closed by a cover plate 60. The hollow front leg 57 receives the filler tube 19 and the actuator 24 extends upwardly through an opening 61 in the top of the leg 57. The hollow rear leg 58 and hand grip 59 houses the conductor cord for connecting the various switches to a power line. A two-way switch 60 is mounted in the front end of the hand grip 59 and is actuated by the valve actuator 24 by a link 62 and arm 63.

One strand 64 of the conductor cord to the power line enters through an opening in the side of the leg 53 and is connected to one terminal of the heating element l1. The other strand 65 is connected to a common terminal 65 of the two-way switch 60. One terminal 67 of switch 65) is connected by conductor 63 to the terminal 69 of switch 50. The terminal 70 of switch 60 is connected by conductor 71 to the terminal 72 of the switch 36. The terminal 73 of the arm 52 is connected by conductor 74 to the other terminal of the heating element 1i and by conductor 75 to the terminal 76 of the spring arm 32.

The cords 65, 68 and 71 are housed within the hollow grip S9 of the handle 56 while all of the cords including 54 are housed within the hollow rear leg 58. For purposes of clarity the entire length of the cords are not shown in Fig. l and reference is made to Fig. 2 for the proper wiring arrangement.

The dial 46 is marked with ari oft indicia and with indicia for indicating the proper setting for dry ironing various fabrics. There is no need for marking the dial 46 with an indicia for steam ironing since the switch 3G is cut out of operation by opening the water valve.

Operation In the position shown in the drawings the iron is set for steam ironing. Valve 2?. is open and the switch 69 is in the position shown in Fig. 2. The heater 11 is intermittently energized by the following circuit; conductor 65, terminal 66, switch 68', terminal 67, conductor 63,

terminal 69, switch Sti, terminal 73, conductor 74, heater q il and conductor 64. It is to be noted that the switch 3U is completely out of circuit.

If it is desired to use the iron for dry ironing, the valve actuator 24 is moved to the dotted line position of Fig. l which closes the valve 22 and operates switch 6G so that the terminal 70 will be in circuit and the terminal 67 will be out of circuit. The dial 46 is rotated to the proper setting for the fabric which is to be ironed.

Under the above conditions the heater l1 will be intermittently energized by the following circuits; conductor 65, terminal 66, switch 60', terminal 7G, conductor 71, terminal 72, switch 30, terminal 76, conductors 75 and 74, heater 1l and conductor 64. The switch 50 is complctely out of circuit and the switch 3f) takes over control of the sole plate temperature.

Whether the valve actuator 24 is in the full line or dotted line positions of Fig. l the dial 46 may be rotated to its off position and both switches 30 and 50 will be completely deactivated. The button 39 will be moved downwardly to move spring arm 32 downwardly to open contacts 34 and 3S regardless of the sole plate temperature. The extension 57 of the spring arm 32 will contact button 58 and move spring arm 52 downwardly, separate contacts 54 and 55 regardless of the sole plate temperature.

While we have shown but a single modification of our invention it is to be understood that that modification is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. vvc do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variatiens thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

We claim:

l, In a convertible steam iron, a sole plate, a heater therefor, a first thermostatic switch responsive to the temperature of said sole plate for intermittently energizing said heater to control the temperature of said sole plate, a second thermostatic switch responsive to the temperature of said sole plate for intermittently energizing-said heater for controlling the temperature of said sole plate, a boiler formed in said sole plate, a valve for controlling the flow of water to said sole plate, a valve actuator for opening and closing said valve, a two-way switch connected in circuit with said first and second thermostatic switches and means actuated by movement of said valve actuator to valve opening position operable to cut the first of said thermostatic switches out of circuit and the second into circuit.

2. In a steam iron according to claim 1 in which the first of said thermostatic switches is manually adjustable to vary the temperature setting of said sole plate and the second of said thermostatic switches has a fixed temperature setting proper for steam ironing.

3. In a steam iron according to claim 2 in which the fixed temperature setting of said second thermostatic switch is intermediate the adjustable settings of said first thermostatic switch.

4. In asteam iron convertible for dry or steam ironing comprising, a sole plate, a heater therefor, a boiler formed in said sole plate in heat exchange relationship with said heater, a valve controlling the flow of water to said boiler, an actuator for moving said valve to its open or closed positions, a manually adjustable thermostatic switch operable to intermittently energize said heater to maintain a proper sole plate temperature for dry ironing and means actuated by movement of said valve actuator to its valve opening position for cutting said thermostatic switch out of circuit and means actuated by said valve actuator to its valve opening position for energizing said heater independently of said manually adjustable switch.

5. In a steam iron having a sole plate, a heater therefor, a boiler for converting water into steam, a valve for controlling the flow of water to said boiler, a valve actuator for moving said valve to its open or closed positions and a manually adjustable switch responsive to sole plate temperature for intermittently energizing said heater; that improvement which comprises; a second thermostatic switch responsive to sole plate temperature for intermittently energizing said heater; a two-way switch selectively actuatable to cut either of said thermostatic switches out of circuit and actuating means connected between said valve actuator and said two-way switch and operable to cut said manually adjustable thermostatic switch out of circuit and to place said second thermostatic switch into circuit when said valve actuator is moved to its valve opening position.

6. In a steam iron according to claim 5 in which said actuating means and said valve actuator are operable to cut said second thermostatic switch out of circuit and to place said manually adjustable thermostatic switch into circuit when said valve actuator is moved to its valve closing position.

7. In a steam iron according to claim 5 including a dial for controlling the temperature setting of said manually adjustable thermostatic switch, said dial having an off position in which said manually adjustable thermostatic switch is open circuited regardless of the temperature of said sole plate and means actuated by movement of said dial to its off position for open circuiting said second thermostatic switch regardless of the sole plate temperature.

8. A steam iron comprising, a sole plate, a heater therefor, a water tank associatedv/ith said sole plate, a boiler formed in said sole plate for converting water into steam, a valve for controlling the flow of water from said tank to said boiler, a valve actuator for moving said valve to its open or closed positions, a manually adjustable thermostatic switch mounted on said sole plate for intermittently energizing said heater, a rotatable dial for adjusting the temperature setting of said manually adjustable thermostatic switch, a second thermostatic switch mounted on said sole plate for intermittently energinug said heater, a two-way switch selectively operable to cut either tliermostatic switch out of circuit and to place the other switch into circuit and actuating means connected between said valve actuator and said two-way switch and operable to cut said manually adjustable thermostatic switch out of circuit and to place said second thermostatic switch into circuit when said valve actuator is moved to its valve opening position.

9. A steam iron according to claim 8 in which said dial has an off position in which said manually adjustable thermostatic switch is open circuited regardless of the sole plate temperature and means actuated by movement of said dial to its 01T position for open circuiting said second thermostatic switch regardless of the sole plate temperature.

10. In a steam iron according to claim 8 in which said actuating means and said valve actuator are operable to cut said second thermostatic switch out of circuit and to place said manually adjustable thermostatic switch into circuit when said valve actuator is moved to its valve closing position.

11. In a steam iron according to claim 10 in which said dial has an off position in which said manually adjustable thermostatic switch is open circuited regardless of the sole plate temperature and means actuated by movement of said dial to its olf position for open circuiting a second thermostatic switch regardless of the sole plate temperature.

12. In a steam iron having a sole plate, a heater therefor, a boiler for converting water to steam, a manually adjustable thermostatic switch for intermittently energizing said heater for maintaining the sole plate at a plurality of preselected temperatures when the iron is used for dry ironing and being movable to an open circuiting position regardless of the sole plate temperature; that improvement which comprises; a second thermostatic switch having a xed temperature setting mounted on 6 said sole plate for intermittently energizing said heater to maintain said sole plate at a single preselected temperature when the iron is to be used for steam ironing and means for selectively cutting said manually adjustable switch out of circuit with said heater and for placing said second switch in circuit with said heater.

13. In a steam iron according to claim 12 including means actuated by movement of said manually adjustable thermostatic switch to open circuiting position for open circuiting said second thermostatic switch regardless of sole plate temperature.

14. In a steam iron according to claim 12 including manually actuable means selectively operable to cut one of said thermostatic switches out of circuit and to place the other into circuit.

15. In a steam iron according to claim 14 including means actuated by movement of said manually adjustable thermostatic switch to open circuiting position for open circuiting said second thermostatic switch regardless of sole plate temperature.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,345,413 Morton Mar. 28, 1944 2,411,199 Felver Nov. 19, 1946 2,441,586 Morton May 18, 1948 

